Son of lawmaker who sped back for gay marriage vote dies

housedem.state.il.us website

Rep. Naomi Jakobsson's son, Garret, died on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013. Jakobsson rushed in and out of the Capitol to vote in favor as supporters worried whether they would have enough vote to pass the landmark legislation.

Rep. Naomi Jakobsson's son, Garret, died on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013. Jakobsson rushed in and out of the Capitol to vote in favor as supporters worried whether they would have enough vote to pass the landmark legislation. (housedem.state.il.us website)

Ray LongClout Street

SPRINGFIELD — As the emotional debate unfolded Tuesday on the Illinois gay marriage bill, one lawmaker from Urbana rushed in and out of the Capitol to vote in favor as supporters worried whether they would have enough vote to pass the landmark legislation.

Rep. Naomi Jakobsson had been caring for her son, Garret, who was gravely ill.

Today, House lawmakers returned to the Capitol to learn that Garret Jakobsson died last night.

Jakobbson’s colleagues stood for a moment of silence when the death was announced by House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie.

“I would like the members to join me in sending our deepest sympathies to Naomi and her husband, Eric,” Currie said. “Last night, their son Garret, age 46, died after a long illness.

In addition to grieving parents, he will be missed by his many brothers and sisters, his wife, Liz, his 10-year-old son, Gunnar.”

Currie asked for the moment so the full House could “express in their own hearts their concern for Naomi, her family and young Gunner.”

The Champaign News-Gazette reported that the lawmaker’s husband, Eric Jakobsson, explained that the couple wanted to be with their son, who was at a hospice center in Mattoon.

A co-sponsor of the bill, Jakobsson cast a vote on the winning side. The measure passed with only 61 votes, one vote more than the bare minimum needed to pass. The Senate then sent the bill to the governor, who has promised to sign the measure and make Illinois the 15th state to approve gay marriage.